יום שלישי, 26 בפברואר 2013

The Search For Happiness

There is no place where people are as short-tempered as on the road. They scream, curse and the blood pressure sky-rockets. [One thing I have noticed in my life is that it is ALWAYS - with rare exceptions - the other guy's fault and not the person who is driving in my car. Interesting how it works out that way....]

Recently my cab driver wanted to get through a certain road block but the security guard was giving him trouble. He was FURIOUS. FUMING. He screamed "אתה באמת דפוק או רק עושה את עצמך ככה" - "Are you really stupid or are you just acting that way??" Somehow - this argument didn't convince the security guard to let us through.... [This "gem" has been repeated numerous times in my house since then, sending everyone squealing with laughter].

Why is this so? Why are people most hot-headed on the road??

People feel as if they are missing SOMETHING. True happiness eludes them. Traveling is a way to somehow pursue that yearned-for feeling of fulfillment. Maybe if they go to that other place they will be happier. I often walk down the street and wonder where everybody is going. What were you missing at point "A" that compel you to go to point "B". People spend tremendous amounts of money and suffer many inconveniences, all to be in a different place [how much does a flight cost?]. Believe me, if people were really happy on the inside they would find no reason to be anywhere other than where they are.

When people are on this literal journey in search of fulfillment they are tense. Something is NOT RIGHT. They don't have the wherewithal to be patient and calm.

Marriage, all relationships, require the opposite. Calm, relaxed, at ease, PATIENT. We need to have the capacity not to turn assumptions into conclusions. To talk. To LISTEN. TO HEAR. To be ACCEPTING.